Frame



Nov. 15, 1938. J. EAMQADAMS A2,136,906

FRAME Filed July 14, 1958 Patented Nov. 15, 19.38

PATENT OFFICE,

FRAME JamesF. McAdams,.West SomervilIe,.Mass., as-

signor to A. S. Campbell Co., Inc., EastBoston, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts vApplication July1'4, 1938, Serial'No. 219,177`

7 Claims. Cl. l0-1%) This invention relates to sectional frames designed particularly for use on automobile license plates and the object is to provide an improved construction for sucha frame permitting itto be 51 easily positioned on theplate or withdrawn therefrom when necessary and yet to be iirmly held without rattling.

` My invention will'be Well understood by reference to the following description takenin connection with the accompanying drawing, Where- 1n:-

` Fig. lv isla front elevation of a'plate having a frame, the construction of which is illustrative of the principles of my invention, applied thereto; 115' Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view, as seenfrom the inner side, of the elements located at one ofl the joints of the frame shownin separated position and ona larger scale than Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 isa side elevation and Fig. Llan end elevation of a clip used in the construction, these views being on a still larger scale;

Fig. 5` isa section on a greatly enlargedfscale on the plane of the line 6 6 of Fig. 1 but with the license plate removed; and

Fig. 6 is a section on the line B--Ii of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, I have there shown a license plate 8 having the usual openings I0 by means of which it may be bolted to aV carrier bracket on the car. The frame herein shown-is of the type which is supported bythe plate rathei than one which is secured to the car and" carries the plate. It may comprise a circuit `of sections of hollow tubular form, which herein comprise angular corner sections I2 and alternating 35 straight sections I4, the former telescoping within the latter to provide a wide range of adjusting movement among the sections of the frame to permit it to t license plates of different sizes and all the sections having an inwardly facing slot I6 or opening to receive the margins of the plate. The sections are of substantial cross section to constitute a frame member and are polished or other- Wise attractively finished on their outer surface. Herein I have shown the sections as of circular cross section and split along their inner sides to provide the slots I6.

The slots I6, while narrow, may be of substantially greater width than the normal thickness of the plate 8, and to retain the sections in posi- 50 tion on the plate I provide, as in my co-pending application, Serial No. 215,575, filed June 24, 1938, securing devices which grip the edges of the plate and are retained in the tubular sections by virtue of the incurving margins of the latter at either side of the slots I6 which are in effect overhanging flanges. These securing devices in the embodiment shown are spring clips I8 formedA of sheet metal and are relatively short as compared with the sectionsV whichreceive them. `IIereinl have'shown clips at each joint of the frame at thel i normally in contact, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. 1

Short, outwardly diverging tabs.22 may be provided as extensionsof the clip, which tabs, when the clip isin position in the tubularv section, as shown'in Fig. 5, arelocated at the slot I6 and form guiding surfaces to receive the edge of the plate 8, which, When'pressed inbetween the jaws 2i), is frictionally gripped thereby while 'the body of the `clip is expanded internallyof'the'tubular section I2` (see Fig. 6).

I providesuitable `means for retaining the telescoping sectionstogether which', while `i'iernfiitting desired adjusting movement thereof, restricts theirfree relative longitudinal movement, holding the sections' firmly together and preventing rattling. joints between the several sections and the retainingrmeans is organized as a part of the clips;- For this purpose the bodiesof the clips may be slit transversely adjacent one end thereof to form the two springfarms 23 having attheir extremities outwardly turned fingers 25 spaced inwardly fromthe position ofthe jaws 2i), the angular distance between these fingers measured around the exterior portion of the clip, that is, the upper portion viewingFigsB and 4, being no greater than the angular distance around-thesplit tubular section I2. The margins of the sections I2 may be provided with notches 21 (see Fig. 2) at one or more points in their length, the sides of these notches being preferably substantially perpendicular to the axial line of the section to provide an abrupt locking shoulder. 'I'he fingers 25 spring into and engage these notches, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the clips thus being positively interlocked against longitudinal movement in the sections I2. The fingers extending through the notches press against the overlying inner wall of the outer section I4 and frictionally hold the latter in position, permitting the section to be forcibly moved when it is desired to adjust the Herein the clips I8 are located at the frame to the plate or remove it therefrom but preventing any casual movement between them.

To secure the frame about the license plate, the clips are rst assembled with the sections |2- by being inserted through the open ends thereof and are brought to rest by engagement of the fingers 25 with notches 21. Ordinarily the several sections are assembled in a circuit considerably larger than the plate and collapsed into position thereon. The edges of the plate are introduced between and guided by the flaring tabs 22 and the sections pressed into position. 'Ihe jaws 20 firmly grip the plate and retain the frame sections in position, the interengaging sections being held together by the action of the'ngers 25, as already described. No tools are required. The tabs 22 are inconspicuous in the finished job. The clips I8 may be made of highly resilientmaterial while the material of the sections themselves, as well as their form, may be chosen to `give the desired appearance.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment `to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive; reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

I claim:

l. A frame for license plates or the like comprising a' circuit of mutually telescoping hollow sections having inturned flanges forming inwardly facing slots to receive the edge of a plate, relatively short members housed in the inner sections having opposed resilient gripping portions presented at the slot adapted to be forced apart by and close in .gripping relation on the edge of the plate, the inner sections having openings and the members having inwardly yielding fingers projecting through the openings 'and engaging the outer sections.

2. A frame for license plates or the like comprising a circuit of mutually telescoping hollow sections having inturned flanges forming inwardly facing slots to receive the edge of a plate, relatively short members housed in the inner sections having opposed resilient gripping portions presented at the slot adapted to be forced apart by and close in gripping relation on the edge of the plate, flanges of the inner sections being notched and the members .having outwardly turned, inwardly yieldable fingers locking in the notches and projecting therethroughY into engagement with the outer sections.

3. A frame for license plates or the like comprising a circuit of mutually telescoping hollow sections having inwardly opening slots of restricted width to'receive the edge of ythe plate and spring clips received within inner sections at the locations of overlapping joints between sections, the clips adapted to be assembled with the sections through the ends thereof but not to be Withdrawn through the slots, the clips having provision for gripping the edge of the plate entered into the slots and also means for frictionally locking together the overlapping portions of the sections.

4. A frame for license plates or the like comprising a circuit of mutually telescoping hollow sections having inwardly opening slots bounded by at least one overhanging flange into which slots the edges of the plate may be entered, and

.bowed spring clips transversely disposed within inner sections at the location of the overlapping joints between sections, the clips having opposed gripping jaws presented at the slots and outwardly projecting, inwardly yieldable ngers out of 'alignment with the slots, the inner sections being cut away to pass said fingers for binding engagement of the same with the overlying walls of outer sections.

5. A frame for license plates or the like comprising a circuit of mutually telescoping hollow sections having inwardly opening slots bounded by at least one overhanging flange into which slots the edges of the plate may be entered, and bowed spring clips transversely disposed within inner sections at the location of the overlapping joints between sections, the clips having outwardly turned fingers at their ends, the margins of inner sections having notches in which said fingers are received and through which they pass to engage frictionally the inner wall of an outer section.

6. A frame for license plates or the like comprising a circuit of mutually telescoping hollow sections having inwardly opening slots bounded by at least one overhanging flange into which slots the edges of the plate may be entered, and clips of the general form of short split annuli disposed transversely within inner sections at the location of the overlapping joints between sections, the clips having outwardly projecting fingers resiliently yieldable inwardly, the inner sections being cut away to pass said fingers for binding engagement with the overlying walls of outer sections.

7. A frame for license plates or the like comprising a circuit of mutually telescoping hollow sections having inwardly opening slots of restricted width to receive the edge of the plate, spring clips received within sections adapted to be assembled with the sections through the ends thereof but not to be withdrawn from the slots and having jaws presented at the slots for gripping the edge of the plate entered therethrough, the clips being located at the joints between telescoping sections and constructed to engage one of the sections positively and the other frictionally to restrict the longitudinal movement thereof.

JAMES F. MCADAMS. 

